Popular Panto Stars Return to Beacon Arts Centre

The fabulous Sleeping Beauty brings the family pantomime magic back to Beacon Arts Centre this year…and she’s bringing a few familiar faces along with her!

Jane McCarry will be wicked once more as the evil Carabosse with Mark Cox as Cludgie the Henchman. Jimmy Chisholm also returns with Lee Samuel as they revive their popular pairing as Dame and Comic.

Still Game favourites Jane and Mark, best known as Isa Drennan and Tam Mullen in the hugely popular sit-com (which has just celebrated its eighth series on UK screens) have become a key ingredient of the increasing success of the Beacon pantomime over the last few years.

While Greenock audiences love to see the pair perform, it turns out that the feeling is mutual as both Jane & Mark love performing panto in Greenock. Mark says “The audience at the Beacon is the warmest I have ever played in front of, they are just amazing.”

This year, Mark will once again be playing sidekick to Jane’s evil character Carabosse. “Jane and I go way back. From drama college to hit television show and we just love working together because we know each other so well as friends and as actors. Never a dull moment!”

Lee Samuel is also full of praise for his on-stage comedy partner Jimmy Chisholm. “We have such a laugh working together and over the years we have developed a great chemistry on and off the stage. Jimmy is a force of energy and fun. He is a very generous and professional actor and is happy to share the comedy with me and the other cast members.”

“I love panto but my favourite bit is always the song sheet. There is nothing better than seeing the whole audience up dancing and singing along at the top of their voices with age groups ranging from toddlers to great grandparents and before you know it even the most reluctant member of the family is joining in! It’s great to see the whole family having fun and getting into the Christmas spirit as that is what panto is all about!”

Joining the cast this year are Martine McMenemy as Queen Matilda and Nikki Horsburgh as Princess Beauty.

Steve Boden, managing director of Imagine Theatre who produce the show says “We are delighted with the increasing popularity of the Beacon Arts Centre panto over the last few years. The reviews last year were amazing and I am confident we will put on another fabulous show this year.”

Sleeping Beauty runs from Friday 7 until Monday 31 December 2018.

For more information or to book tickets to the show call the box office on 01475 723723 or visit www.beaconartscentre.co.uk